Page 110 of A World Enough

“How do you know this?”

“It is written in our story,” Koda said. Koda nudged Brogan and said, “Let’s go back to your mate.”

Chapter Twenty-one

It was a perfect dark, starry night. This was the best decision they had made, to go to the wolves’ planet.

After a surprising afternoon, and learning about Brogan’s shared history, the pack had invited them to barbecue in the evening. Kids were running around, and people were laughing and joking and mixing with Morrigan, Margot, and the rest of the team. Even Thane was smiling. It was the food that did it, Camber thought.

There was a big bonfire in the middle, and Brogan and some of the other dominant wolves were talking there.

Camber was sitting with Enor on seats around the perimeter. She took the last bite of meat from her plate. “Mmm. That was so good, Enor.” Camber wiped her mouth with her napkin.

“Was it well done enough? The cooks are quite used to our taste for rare meat.”

“It was lovely, honestly.”

Camber looked up and caught Brogan gazing at her.

“Are you sure she’s not your mate?” Enor said.

“No.”

“She looks like she’s pining for you.”

“I lo—Our lives are too complicated. I’m the Map Keeper, so I need to always be on the run.”

“Then let this be your safe haven. The Great Mother endowed us with the task of taking care of the Great Forest, for wolves everywhere, and in return, we are protected from any race that is not friendly.”

“How does that work? I always wondered why the Abnobians never bothered you.”

“Oh, they tried. Numerous times, but they came down and were overcome by our environment. There’s a flower in our forest that uses biochemicals to make GallowGlas uninhabitable to any species that we haven’t invited down here. Like yourself.”

“That’s amazing,” Camber said.

“We’re lucky. So you see, that’s why we can be a safe harbour for you.”

Kanni came to sit beside them. “That big wolf is pining for you.”

“I’ll go and talk to her,” Camber said. She walked over to the Alpha and said, “Excuse me, Koda. I was just going to ask if Brogan would like a walk.”

“I’m sure she’d love that.” Koda pushed Brogan to her.

“Yeah, of course I would.”

As they walked off, Camber laughed. “I think the Alpha and the Mater were determined we go on a walk.”

“I think you’re right.”

“It’s so perfect around here, isn’t it?” Camber said.

“If ever there was a world made for wolves, then this is it.”

“Enor told me that the Great Mother allows them to harvest sap from the trees and trade it around the realm. Ziggy says that her business couldn’t do without it,” Camber said.

“It’s truly a haven for wolves. Koda was telling me about their unique defences.”

“The flowers that grow here?”